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Tunisia Population 2018

11,706,094

Tunisia, officially the Tunisian Republic, is the northernmost country of Africa and the smallest country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Libya and Algeria. The estimated 2018 population of Tunisia is 11.66 million, which ranks 80th in the world.

Tunisia's estimated population is 11.66 million, compared to 9.56 million in 2000. Tunisia is not densely populated, with just 63 people per square kilometer (163/sq mi), which ranks 133rd in the world. The capital and largest city is Tunis, with a population of just over one million. This is followed closely by Sfax with a population of 945,000. Other major cities include Tunis, Sfax, and Sousse.

Tunisia Demographics

Tunisia is mostly made up of people from distinct and mixed Berber and Arab descent. About 98% of the population identifies as Arabs, while just 1% are purely Berber and live in the Dahar mountains and the island of Djerba.

Between the late 19th century and through the 1950's, Tunisia had large populations of French and Italians, who combined made up 255,000 in 1956. Virtually all of the Europeans and the Jewish population left after the country gained independence. There was a history of Jews in the region going back 2,000 years. While the 1948 Jewish population was over 105,000, it was reduced to just 1,500 by 2003.

The Berbers are the first known inhabitants of the region, although today's Tunisia reflects many civilizations who have invaded, migrated to and been assimilated into the population over the last thousand years.

98% of the population are Muslims with 2% Christian, Judaism and other religions.

Data Sources

Total population: Estimated to be consistent with the 1956, 1966, 1975, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014 censuses, and with estimates of the subsequent trends in fertility, mortality and international migration.